Method for enhancing the dewatering of starch

Abstract

A method for enhancing the dewatering of starch comprising adding to an aqueous starch slurry an effective amount of a composition comprising polybutene and at least one surfactant having a melting point less than 20° C.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for enhancing the removal of water from starch which comprises adding to an aqueous starch slurry having present about 20 gallons of water/100 pounds of corn or the equivalent starch thereof, during the wet milling of said starch, a composition comprising polybutene and at least one surfactant having a melting point less than 20° C., wherein from about 100 to 500 parts per million of said composition is added to said aqueous starch slurry. 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said polybutene has a number average molecular weight between about 300 and 3,000. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said polybutene has a number average molecular weight between about 300 and 400. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol dioleate, polyethylene glycol ditallate, sorbitan ester and oleic diethanolamide. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein from about 150 to 300 parts per million of said composition is added to said aqueous starch slurry.